This thematic based part of the course is worth 25% of your final History grade, and is assessed in an exam lasting 1.5 hours. You need to answer 2 essay questions in this exam, with each question chosen from a separate 'topic'. Each topic has 6 questions to choose from. Topics covered in depth:
option 1) Causes and practices and effects of war (CPEW)
option 3) Origins and development of authoritarian and single-party states (SPS)
(In case of emergency, you might also check "option 2: Democratic States - challenges and responses", as it is possible that there might be a question you can answer on Weimar Germany. But this should be a last resort!)
Examiner's tips on approaching this exam (taken from May 2010 subject report):
"5 - 10 minutes writing a plan of the response is time well-spent and can aid in producing a coherent and focused answer." It is actually not a bad idea to include your planning sheet with your essay when you hand in your script at the end of the exam - as long as it is legible - as this will allow the examiner to see your line of thought develop.
"A thematic approach to essays ... usually produces a more successful outcome" - approaching a question using a chronological narrative approach will push you towards the dreaded description at the expense of analysis. So use your planning time to identify the specific themes that you are going to take up in order to answer the question.
Understanding the question is absolutely central to doing well in this exam - time spent analysing past papers before the final exams, practicing working out the specific demands of each question, will not be time wasted! If you do not understand the question, you stand no chance of writing a good essay! Remember to look carefully at the 'command terms' (i.e. 'evaluate', 'to what extent' etc.) and any dates included in the question!
Make sure you answer the specific question set - and not the question that you wish you had been given (as you prepared a practice essay for this two days before the exam!) This means you must, must, must read the question very carefully during your five minutes reading time to make sure you have fully understood what it is asking you to look at.
Define any key terms and/or dates in your introduction in order to show (i) that you have successfully grasped the question and (ii) how you will be using such terms in your essay.
Answers need to include "sufficient, relevant, accurate historical knowledge" - too many students' essays consist of "sweeping generalizations" that are not supported by any historical evidence! A successful essay will be supported by reference to historical knowledge - this is a History exam, after all! As Dickens' character Gradgrind stresses (though in a slightly different context), you will need to learn your "facts, facts, facts" to do well in your History exams
Use historiography carefully: it should be a supplement to relevant historical knowledge, not a substitute for it. You will not receive high grades simply by spattering your essay with quotes from historians willy-nilly; instead, you need to use such quotes to support your own argument. A true mastery of historiography would include knowing what evidence different schools of thought base their views on, an awareness of how their interpretations are shaped by the times and circumstances in which they were made, and a willingness to challenge the views of historians by using detailed historical knowledge to argue against them!
Topic 1: Causes, practices and effects of wars
War was a major feature of the 20th century. In this topic the different types of war should be identified, and the causes, practices and effects of these conflicts should be studied.
Major themes
Different types and nature of C 20th warfare - Civil - Guerilla - Limited war, total war Origins and causes of wars - Long/short/immediate term causes - Economic, ideological, political and religious causes
Nature of 20th century wars - Technological developments, tactics and strategies, air, land and sea - Home front: economic and social impact (changing role and status of women) - Resistance and revolutionary movements
Effects and results of wars - Peace settlements and wars ending without treaties - Attempts at collective security pre and post WW2 - Political repercussions and territorial changes - Post-war economic problems
Material for detailed study:
· First World War (1914 – 18) · Second World War (1939 – 45) · Chinese Civil Wars (1927 – 37 and 1946 – 9) · Spanish Civil War (1936 - 39)
Note: For questions that ask you to look at conflicts chosen from different regions, you need to include the example of China!
Topic 3: Origins and developments of authoritarian and single-party states
The 20th century produced many authoritarian and single-party states. The origins, ideology, form of government, organization, nature and impact of these regimes should be studied.
Major themes
Origins and nature of authoritarian and single-party states - Conditions that produced authoritarian and single-party states - Emergence of leaders: aims, ideology, support - Totalitarianism: the aim and extent to which it was achieved Establishment of authoritarian and single party states - Methods: force, legal - Form of government, (left and right wing) ideology - Nature, extent and treatment of opposition Domestic policies and impact - Structure and organization of government and administration - Political, economic, social and religious policies - Role of education, the arts, the media, propaganda - Status of women, treatment of religious groups and minorities
Material for detailed study
· USSR – Stalin, (Lenin - not named) · Europe – Hitler; (Mussolini - not named)
NOTE: as we have not looked at Mao beyond the results of the Chinese Civil War, you will not be able to answer questions that ask you to look at two leaders chosen from different regions. Please bear this in mind when choosing your question for this topic!
Paper 2 Syllabus Details
This thematic based part of the course is worth 25% of your final History grade, and is assessed in an exam lasting 1.5 hours. You need to answer 2 essay questions in this exam, with each question chosen from a separate 'topic'. Each topic has 6 questions to choose from. Topics covered in depth:
option 1) Causes and practices and effects of war (CPEW)
option 3) Origins and development of authoritarian and single-party states (SPS)
(In case of emergency, you might also check "option 2: Democratic States - challenges and responses", as it is possible that there might be a question you can answer on Weimar Germany. But this should be a last resort!)
Examiner's tips on approaching this exam (taken from May 2010 subject report):
Topic 1: Causes, practices and effects of wars
War was a major feature of the 20th century. In this topic the different types of war should be identified, and the causes, practices and effects of these conflicts should be studied.
Major themes
Different types and nature of C 20th warfare
- Civil
- Guerilla
- Limited war, total war
Origins and causes of wars
- Long/short/immediate term causes
- Economic, ideological, political and religious causes
Nature of 20th century wars
- Technological developments, tactics and strategies, air, land and sea
- Home front: economic and social impact (changing role and status of women)
- Resistance and revolutionary movements
Effects and results of wars
- Peace settlements and wars ending without treaties
- Attempts at collective security pre and post WW2
- Political repercussions and territorial changes
- Post-war economic problems
Material for detailed study:
· First World War (1914 – 18)
· Second World War (1939 – 45)
· Chinese Civil Wars (1927 – 37 and 1946 – 9)
· Spanish Civil War (1936 - 39)
Note:
For questions that ask you to look at conflicts chosen from different regions, you need to include the example of China!
Topic 3: Origins and developments of authoritarian and single-party states
The 20th century produced many authoritarian and single-party states. The origins, ideology, form of government, organization, nature and impact of these regimes should be studied.
Major themes
Origins and nature of authoritarian and single-party states
- Conditions that produced authoritarian and single-party states
- Emergence of leaders: aims, ideology, support
- Totalitarianism: the aim and extent to which it was achieved
Establishment of authoritarian and single party states
- Methods: force, legal
- Form of government, (left and right wing) ideology
- Nature, extent and treatment of opposition
Domestic policies and impact
- Structure and organization of government and administration
- Political, economic, social and religious policies
- Role of education, the arts, the media, propaganda
- Status of women, treatment of religious groups and minorities
Material for detailed study
· USSR – Stalin, (Lenin - not named)
· Europe – Hitler; (Mussolini - not named)
NOTE:
as we have not looked at Mao beyond the results of the Chinese Civil War, you will not be able to answer questions that ask you to look at two leaders chosen from different regions. Please bear this in mind when choosing your question for this topic!